Saturday 13th April 2019 saw four steam locomotives on three railtours in the north west of England.

These locomotive were, 44871, 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier on The Citadel, 60163 Tornado on The Border Raider & 45690 Leander on The Pennine Blackpool Express. 

The Citadel is a tour ran by West Coast Railtours that usually runs twice a year with two Black Fives double heading from Manchester Victoria to Carlisle and back via the S&C & WCML, this one being the first one for 2019, the second one being in November. However, on this tour, both Black Fives were taken off of the tour at Carnforth. The tour was diesel hauled from Carnforth to Manchester Victoria.

This tour was the 45407s first tour after her very fast 10 year overhaul

The Citadel saw the Black Fives head through places such as Greater Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, Hellifield, Long Preston, Settle, Ribblehead, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Penrith North Lakes, Oxenholme Lake District & Carnforth.

The Border Raider is a tour ran by UK Railtours which runs once a year hauled by 60163 Tornado, which heads to Carlisle usually starting in Birmingham and returning WCML & S&C.

This years tour ran from Birmingham New Street to Carlisle and return via Crewe, the WCML & the S&C 

The tour was diesel hauled from Birmingham New Street to Crewe & return.

This saw the A1 head through places such as Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Blackburn, Hellifield, Long Preston, Settle, Ribblehead, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Penrith North Lakes, Oxenholme Lake District, Carnforth, Lancaster & Preston. 

The Pennine Blackpool Express is a new railtour ran by The Railway Touring Company which runs from London Euston to Blackpool North and return via Preston, Hellifield, The Bentham Line & WCML. This being the first one of the year, the second being in September.

The Pennine Blackpool Express saw the Jubilee head through places such as, Salwick, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton Le Flyde, Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Pleasington, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Hellifield, Giggleswick, Clapham, Bentham, Wennington, Carnforth & Lancaster.

Saturday 13th April saw RailView film the Black Fives & WCR Class 47 at Langcliffe, just outside Settle, North West Yorkshire, passing through at 10:46, no report & Lancaster, Lancashire, (diesel hauled) passing through at 18:11, on time. 

Tornado at Settle, North West Yorkshire, passing through at 13:13 passing through 5 minutes late, Lancaster, passing through at 18:51, 2 minutes late, passing her on a Pendolino whilst taking water at Preston & Warrington Bank Quay, passing through, at 20:01, 1 minute late.  

And Leander at Lancaster, passing through at 17:19, 1 minute late.

Here are a few photos of our day.

See more of videos like this on RailView’s YouTube Channel by clicking here.

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